Though you wouldn't know it from the American media, the riots continue throughout France. Yes, the number of car burnings has declined, but the violence continues to smolder outside of Paris.
The Guardian is reporting that the French media is 'self-censoring' out of fear that wide coverage will bolster the claims of the country's Right. Meanwhile, French citizens took to the streets, but not for the reasons you would think:
Several hundred people demonstrated against the state of emergency in Paris' Latin Quarter, a gathering that police allowed because it was not deemed risky. Under tight police surveillance, the protesters called the new security measures a "provocation" that would not resolve the social and economic problems underlying the unrest.
The protesters, many from left-wing political groups and Communist-backed unions, called for the resignation of Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been accused of inflaming the violence by calling troublemakers "scum."
What kind of people would think essential security measures - the legitimate function of government - a 'provocation'? Nevermind. I know the answer to that.
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